The Russellville Democrat., 1887-08-10
THIRTEENTH YEAR.--NO. 30.
STAYS REBELLION.
The Mad Revolution inaugurated in Massa-
 chnsetts a Century Ago.


 chnsetts Century Ago.
 Daniel Shays had held captains commission in the revolutionary war, and does not seem to have had much heart in the rebellion to which he has given his name. When the war of the revolution closed, Massachusetts was in wretched financial condition from her efforts in the cause of independ- ence. Her state debt was large, and the pay of her soldiers was heavily in arrears. Besides, she had under taken payment of S5,000,0o0 of the debt of the Confederation. Com merce and industry were prostrate. Money. except depreeiated papers, had disappeared from circulation, and prices of the liecessaries of living were ex- orbitant While the people were i'm poverished, the courts and the lawyers were kept busy in endeayoring to en- force the payment of the debts.
 In this condition of affairs popular diseontent arose. As there was no surplus in the Massachusetts treasury for pensions it was proposed that the defenders of the country should be paid out of the property that had been saved in the war. The courts and the law yers were especial objects of resent ment, and it was proposed in many county conventions to abolish lawyers and deprive them of the right to hold office. The advice was largely followed. In many places courts were not per mitted to open theirsessions, the judges were driven from the bench, and the service of writs was obstructed. It was proposed to issue irredeemable flat money as legal tender for private debts. and to repudiate the State debt alto gether.
 In the midst of the popular ferment the Legislature met and the House passed some of the most eXtrayagant measures of the malcontents, but tAey were rejected by the Senate. This re- sistance only increased the popular fury, and an insurrectionary army of about two thousand men gathered in Springfield, under command of General Shays. Governor Bowdoin, who was aroused by this formidable movement,
 t once called out the militia, under General Lincoln, and suspended the writ of habeas corpus. In Springfield the attempt to hold session of court was prevented by the insurgents Gen. eral Shepard, who commanded mili- tia force in Springfield, took possession of the arsenal On the 27th of January, 1787, the army of the insurgents marched upon the arsenal in con temptuous defiance of the warning of it's commander. When the insurgents advanced to the forbidden point, Gen eral Shepard ordered his troops to fire. Four men fell from the discharge of q howitzer, and three were killed. Upon this warm reception the rest fled in the utmost confusion and never halted till they were ten miles from Springfield
 This practically put an end to the re- bellion of Shays, although some of the insurgents fingered in the field for several months. Though the insurrec- ton was thus easily crushed, itwas not without an important influence upon the political history of the country. It caused not only the people of Massa- chusetts, but of the other colonies to realize the loose character of the con federation, to become more and more convinced of the political necessity ito form more perfect union,' in the words of the preamble of the Federal constitution, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the general defense and secure the bless ings of liberty.n For the unwilling share of Shays' rebellion ill contribut- ing to this benefcent consummation due recognition should be given. Des hoines (Ia.) Leader.